CARDIFF CITY TO WELCOME KEDAH STATE FC

Cardiff City Football Club is delighted to announce that it will be welcoming four of Malaysia's most promising young football players to its Academy, early in 2015.

The players of Kedah State FC will visit Wales for a month's training in January, prior to returning to Malaysia to represent their Club in the 2015 Malaysia Youth Cup and President's Cup the following month.

Cardiff City FC would like to congratulate Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato’ Sri Mukhriz Mahathir Menteri Besar of the State of Kedah and President of the Kedah FA, for spearheading this initiative.

Ken Choo said: "We support Dato Sri Mukhriz’s excellent initiative and look forward to welcoming the young Malaysian footballers from Kedah State FC to Cardiff City.

“Spending time here will allow them to gain invaluable football experience in the UK, enhance their football careers and experience a different culture. Naturally, as part of the Academy group, they will also witness our senior professionals in action on match-days and in a training environment.

“At Cardiff City we have strong U21 and U18 squads. This year, for example, our U21 team has already drawn 1-1 at Manchester United and has beaten Chelsea 2-1. The young Malaysian players will come into a positive, winning environment.”

Cardiff City's Academy Manager, James McCarthy, added: "As a Club and Academy we thrive on working with promising young talent. Our U18s are currently second in the Academy Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the FAW Youth Cup, while a number of our youngsters have gained international recognition with Wales at U21, 19, 17 & 16 levels.

"This stands as a fine example of the work we do at Cardiff City and the flourishing environment into which our Malaysian guests will be coming. We very much look forward to their arrival next month."